If you’re a business owner or sales rep, you’re probably looking for ways to get referrals for your business. One way to ensure you never get a referral is not treating people with respect.

A few examples of  NO  R E S P E C T:

  • A biz owner agreed to meet for a 12p networking lunch. I confirmed the meeting by email the week before and the day of. He never showed. He called 30 minutes after our scheduled appointment to say he wasn’t coming.
  • I attended a webinar and found the speaker extremely interesting. She had lots of start-up knowledge I thought would benefit clients. After connecting on social media, she messaged, “Let’s talk!” I responded promptly with a yes and typed “when?” It’s been weeks now and no response. I sent a second message. No respondo. No respect.
  • I carved out a telephone convo date with a new social media follower who said he’d be calling me. You guessed it. A no show. I sent a note asking what happened. He said he was waiting for me to call. I couldn’t, because I never had his number.

All of these situations could have been avoided if these people did what they said they were going to do. As a business person, you lose credibility by not doing the basics. Do you want to get more referrals? Read on.

A great example of  R E S P E C T:

This week, I had lunch with a Gen Y entrepreneur. To my surprise, as I walked into the cafe, she was already seated, busily marking up her At-A-Glance calendar.  Both of us left our cell phones in the car out of mutual respect. We were fully present. In the moment, I gave her a complimentary coaching session because of an important issue she was facing. She was so thankful and appreciative.

I’ll never be able to recommend the -no shows- to anyone in my circle of influence. I need to be confident you’re going to take care of the person I’m referring you to. The way you act, is a reflection on me. I value my reputation.

On the other hand, I’d recommend Ms. Gen Y in a heart beat. Her name is Allison Zales and she’s a passionate Change Management Consultant at Choose Change. She creates systems for individuals and businesses to declutter and increase productivity. If you’re in need of her services or know someone that does, her number is 315.263.6776.

Why am I confident to give her a referral after one meeting? Allison treated me with respect, and I know she’ll do the same for you. That’s all I need to know.

Have you had a similar experience? Tell me in the comments below.

Photo by duncan c.

 

 

 

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